From Software is best known for its gloriously intense and difficult Dark Souls (and Demon Souls) series. Some of you may not know, but the studio didn't actually have a publisher - it was distributed by Bandai Namco globally. But now they have a publisher, and might get a whole new level of support.

During his long career, the Batman has faced impossible odds. Being buried alive, a broken back, various death-traps and super-powered foes. But today, the Dark Knight faces his greatest challenge yet: Dark Souls 2.

Another year, another franchise or two that releases an annual game into the market. NarutoShippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 3: Full Burst Edition is an example of this marketplace ethos, but to an extreme degree that targets fans with too much cash and a burning desire for anything hidden in the leaves.

Make no mistake, Dark Souls 2 is going to be a massive game. We already have plans to book Geoff into therapy, because he needs to review that sequel and put his life on the line to do so. And as soon as we get him out of the crap institute that only the finest of pocket lint can buy, we’re going to make him play the DLC as well.

Namco Bandai is making a new PS3 game in the Soul Calibur series of fighting games. this should have fans pretty excited, but right now, most are left scratching their heads and/or beards, wondering just what on earth Namco is thinking. Soul Calibur: Lost Swords, you see, is a single player only fighting game, removing the element from fighting games that makes them so much fun in the first place. Oh, and it’s free to play.

We have an obvious affinity for that classic yellow pie-chart icon of gaming, but Pac-Man is a series that’s struggled to really move beyond the confines of 2D maze running and pellet-chomping. Namco’s tried numerous times to modernise Pac-Man, with the most successful attempt probably being Pac-Man Championship Edition DX – which mostly stuck to the tried-and-tested formula. They’re trying the 3D adventure route again, with a brand new Pac-Man adventure.

I have to be honest. I'm a little bit ambivalent when it comes to Star Trek. I’ve enjoyed Gene Rodenberry’s past tales of intergalactic diplomacy, and I even quite liked J.J Abrams’ reboot, but I’m hardly what you’d consider a “Trekkie”. I’m not big on licenced games that try cash in on people’s established love either, so I was expecting this new game based on Abrams’ rebooted Star Trek continuity to not be very good. It has exceeded my expectations…by being far worse than I had ever anticipated.

Everyone wants to be a wizard. Whether it is the spectacled boy who lived or the wizard who is never late, there is something alluring about the wizarding arts. So what would you do if you were handed a spell book by an odd short creature who claims to be from another world?

Tekken Tag Tournamant 2 is out right now, and even though I thought that the game was actually a Bryan Mills simulator, it turned out to be something far more impressive instead. There’s a new patch out, and it’s got some new content within it. Details after the jump.

Tekken has been a bit of a gamble in the last few years, with a few awkward games that didn't have the weight or meat of their earlier titles. Does the iron fist hit with full force again? Or did Heihachi's youth elixir fail? Get ready to pitch anyone and everyone against each other.

The Tokyo Game Show, Japan’s premier gaming event is happening right now - and the tubes are currently being inundated with all manner of trailer showcasing the latest in Japanese games. Instead of posting ‘em all one by one, we’ve lumped ‘em all together - so grab some Ramen and take in the best that Japan has to offer.

The long running series of adolescent ninjas and their unique world, is back for another spin on an old tale, in a title that streamlines the process for a more focused approach. But can this new method to gameplay stand tall with previous, solid attempts, or is this game that has gone back to basics with detrimental effects?

There was a time when the words “Ridge Racer” would invoke an almost Pavlovian response from a specific gamer demographic. After almost two decades, the Ridge Racer games have become synonymous with the release of new Sony hardware, but more importantly, they were always a safe bet. In fact, there were two things that you could bank on if you were a Sony gamer.

Firstly, you knew that your new hardware was going to be reliable (or at least more so than the nearest competitor), and secondly, you couldn't go wrong with a Ridge Racer title. It wasn't going to blow your mind, but at least the arcade racer would help pass the time (while you saved up for a few decent games).